Printing apparatus and control method for deleting an area of image data before printing and binding

ABSTRACT

Even when a binding process for binding a plurality of sheets without using a staple is performed after performing printing on both faces of the sheets, the binding process can be performed so that the bound sheets are not easily separated. A control method for controlling a printing apparatus, comprises: performing a binding process for binding, without using a staple, a sheet on which an image is printed based on image data; specifying an area where the binding process is to be performed, the area being included in the image data; deleting image data of the specified area; and printing the image on the sheet based on the image data on which deleting is performed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/989,718 filed Jan. 6, 2016, which is a continuation of prior U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/086,743, filed on Nov. 21, 2013 andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,242,500 on Jan. 26, 2016, which claims thebenefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-262451 filed Nov. 30,2012, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein intheir entireties.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus configured toperform a staple process on sheets, a control method for controlling theprinting apparatus, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

A sheet processing apparatus configured to perform post-processing on anoutput printed paper is attached to some printing apparatuses with aprinter function. Some multifunction peripherals (MFPs) configured toperform a copy function process also have such a sheet processingapparatus.

Representative functions of the sheet processing apparatus include astaple-binding function. The representative staple-binding function is afunction for binding papers using a metallic staple. Because the stapledprinted product is easy to handle for each single copy, the stapledprinted product is widely used when an output product with a pluralityof pages is handled.

However, recently, binding methods without using a staple are devised inconsideration of the environment because the metallic staple is used forstapling. For example, there is devised a method in which a part of aset of printed papers to be bound is cut collectively in a mannerleaving a part thereof without being cut and the cut end portions of thesheets are folded back to bind the set of sheets as discussed inJapanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-300847.

In addition, various binding methods without using a metallic staplesuch as a method for sticking papers with paste to bind the papers and amethod for pressing papers with a particular blade and caulking thepapers to bind the papers have been put into practical use.

Thus, various staple-less binding methods exist. However, there is aproblem with the above mentioned binding methods when an image ispositioned on the binding portion of the paper.

In such cases, toner is applied to the portion on which the image ispositioned. For example, in the above-mentioned method for pressing thepapers with the particular blade and caulking the papers to bind thepapers, the toner infiltrates into a gap in press-binding the papers,which decreases a press-binding force. In the method for binding thebinding portion with the paste, the toner is mixed with the pasteportion, which disadvantageously decreases an adhesive force.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatusincludes: a binding unit configured to perform a binding process forbinding, without using a staple, a sheet on which an image is printedbased on image data; a specifying unit configured to specify an areawhere the binding process is to be performed by the binding unit, thearea being included in the image data; a deleting unit configured todelete image data of the area specified by the specifying unit; and aprinting unit configured to print the image on the sheet based on theimage data on which deleting by the deleting means is performed.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printingapparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a sheetprocessing unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a binding process of apaper processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a binding process of apaper processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a binding process in a printingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a binding process in a printingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a binding process in a printingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a binding process of aprinting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a binding process of a printingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an image processing example forstapling by a printing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a control method for controlling aprinting apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a control method for controlling aprinting apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Next, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to drawings.

<System Configuration>

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. In the present exemplaryembodiment, an example in which a printing apparatus includes a readingfunction and can be used as a copying machine will be described. In FIG.1, a central processing unit (CPU) 101 is a control unit of a systemwhich controls the entire apparatus. A read only memory (ROM) 102 storesa control program for the CPU 101.

A static random access memory (SRAM) 103 stores setting valuesregistered by an operator, management data for the apparatus, andbuffers for various works. The SRAM 103 is a nonvolatile SRAM backed-upby a battery, and memory contents do not disappear even if the powersupply of the apparatus is turned off. Further, the SRAM 103 stores readimage data.

A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 104 stores program controlparameters. An operation unit 105 is a user interface unit configured todisplay information of the apparatus to a user. A reading unit 106 is adevice configured to read image data to convert it into binary data. Thedocument reading for image transmission function is performed using thereading unit 106. A recording unit 107 outputs image data on a recordingpaper. An image processing unit 108 performs an encoding/decodingprocess of the image data processed by the image transmission function.These units are connected to each other via a data bus 111 and the imagedata is transmitted via the data bus 111.

The recording unit 107 configured to print the image data on a sheet isconnected to a sheet processing unit 109, and the output paper printedby the recording unit 107 is conveyed to the sheet processing unit 109.The sheet processing unit 109 performs a post-process such as aligninginput output papers, switching output trays, and performingstaple-binding. The sheet processing unit 109 is configured to perform abinding process for binding a plurality of sheets (papers) using astaple, and to perform a binding process for binding the plurality ofsheets without using a staple. The CPU 101 performs an image process forprocessing the image data so that a printing unit does not print animage at a position where a binding unit performs the binding processaccording to flow chart procedures to be described below in the bindingprocess.

In the present exemplary embodiment, as described above, an originalimage is read by the reading unit 106, and the read image is convertedinto image data. The read image data is stored in the SRAM 103. In anexample of a multifunction peripheral (MFP), the image processing unit108 processes and converts the image data. Then, the recording unit 107prints an image on the paper based on the image data, and the sheetprocessing unit 109 performs a post-process. The printing apparatusincludes a network I/F unit (not illustrated) and a modem unit, and canform the image based on the image data received via the network I/F unitand the modem unit.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of thesheet processing unit 109 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates anexample of a paper processing apparatus (sheet processing unit)installed in a housing of the printing apparatus.

In FIG. 2, a paper processing apparatus 201 is connected to therecording unit 107. A paper is conveyed from the recording unit 107 viaconveyance rollers 204. Conveyance rollers 205 turn over the paper intwo-sided printing. When the paper is turned over, the paper passesthrough the conveyance rollers 205 and enters into the recording unit107 again to be printed on its back side. In this case also, the outputpaper is conveyed through the conveyance rollers 204 to the paperprocessing apparatus 201.

The paper processing apparatus 201 includes functions for aligning andmoving the output papers. However, the present exemplary embodimentfocuses on the staple-binding function. A stapling unit with staple 202performs stapling using a staple. The stapling unit with staple 202 hasa function for binding papers using a metallic staple.

A stapling unit 203 provides a binding function for binding paperswithout using the staple. As described above, there are a number ofstaple-binding methods without using the staple. However, in the presentexemplary embodiment, the stapling unit 203 presses, caulks, and bindsthe papers.

As described above, in an example of such a paper processing apparatus,both the stapling unit 202 with staple and the staple-less stapling unit203 are mounted on the sheet processing apparatus 201.

However, because the problem described in the present specificationoccurs even in the configuration including only the staple-less staplingunit 203, the configuration including only the staple-less stapling unit203 may be an example.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a binding process of apaper processing apparatus according to the present exemplaryembodiment. The present exemplary embodiment illustrates a mechanism ofthe method which presses, caulks, and binds papers as an example of thestaple-less stapling.

The staple-less stapling is a process for performing binding at a placespecified by the user in the same manner as in the conventional staplingwith staple.

In FIG. 3, in an example 300, binding is performed at the top left ofthe document. A method for press-binding the binding portion will bedescribed below.

In a state 310, binding is not performed yet. The state 310 illustratesoutput documents 313 viewed from the side. In the present exemplaryembodiment, for example, three output documents are to be bound. In apress-binding portion, wavy particular blades 311 and 312 are preparedso that the output documents 313 are sandwiched therebetween. In a state320, the output documents 313 are actually press-bound by the particularblades 311 and 312. Output documents 323 are press-bound in a statewhere output documents 323 are sandwiched between particular blades 321and 322. In the present exemplary embodiment, the papers can be bound bypress-binding the papers using the blades.

Such a method makes it possible to perform staple-binding without usingthe metallic staple.

However, when the toner is positioned at the binding portion in thestaple-less stapling method, there is a problem that a press-bindingforce is decreased.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a binding process by apaper processing apparatus according to the present exemplaryembodiment. The present exemplary embodiment illustrates a mechanism ofa method which presses, caulks, and binds papers as an example of thestaple-less stapling.

In FIG. 4, in a state 410, similarly, binding is not performed yet. Thestate 410 illustrates output documents 413 viewed from the side. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, three output documents are to be bound inthe same manner as in the example illustrated in FIG. 3. In apress-binding portion, particular blades 411 and 412 are prepared sothat the output documents 413 are sandwiched therebetween. A case wheretoner 414 is positioned among the three output documents 413 isconsidered.

A state where output documents 423 are actually press-bound in thisstate is illustrated as a press-binding state 420. The output documents423 are press-bound with the output documents 423 sandwiched betweenparticular blades 421 and 422. However, the output documents 423 arepress-bound in a state where toner 424 lies in the press-bindingportion. Because the output documents 423 cannot be firmly press-boundin this state, the press-binding force is decreased.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are diagrams illustrating a binding process in aprinting apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.Hereinafter, a method for avoiding the decrease of the press-bindingforce will be described.

In FIG. 5, a picture 501 in which an image is positioned at a staplingplace is to be printed. When staple-binding is performed, the printingimage is processed so that an image is not positioned at a staplingplace 502, to avoid the decrease of the press-binding force.

In one-side printing, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the printing image isprocessed so that an image is not positioned for each page at a placewhere a staple-binding process is to be performed. The present exemplaryembodiment is an example in which the top left of a document is bound.The printing image is processed so that the image is not positioned atthe top left of each page.

In two-sided printing, as illustrated in FIG. 7, an image process ofeach front face and each back face is performed. Staple-binding issimilarly performed at the top left. In this case, the front face ofeach page is processed so that the image is not positioned at the topleft. A printing image is processed so that an image is not positionedat the top right of the back face of each page so as to correspond to abinding position.

The decrease of the press-binding force can be avoided by processing theprinting image in this manner to prevent the toner from being positionedat a staple-binding position.

When the user views the finished output documents in order to processthe image in the method for avoiding the decrease of the press-bindingforce, the image is not positioned at the staple-binding position, whichcan cause an uncomfortable feeling in the user. Therefore, a method foravoiding the uncomfortable feeling is also devised.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a binding process of aprinting apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. Thepresent exemplary embodiment illustrates a binding state where toner ispositioned on a front face and a back face in staple-less stapling. FIG.8 is different from the example of FIG. 4, and does not illustrate acase where the toner is positioned between papers. FIG. 8 illustrates anexample of a state where toner 814 is positioned on the uppermost frontface or a state where the toner 814 is positioned on the lowermost backface.

In this case, when papers are press-bound by blades 811 and 812 in thesame manner as in the method, the toner 814 is not positioned betweenthe papers. Therefore, the toner 814 is applied to the upper and lowersides of the binding portion. However, the toner 814 does not lie in thepress-binding portion, which prevents the decrease of the press-bindingforce. [0053] The front face and back face of the binding portion can beviewed by the user. Therefore, when the image is processed so that thetoner is not positioned on the front face and back face, a processingportion can be viewed, which causes an uncomfortable feeling. However,the face located inside of the bound bundle cannot be directly viewed bythe user. Therefore, even if the image is processed, the uncomfortablefeeling is decreased.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 9, an image process is performed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a binding process of a printingapparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. In the presentexemplary embodiment, an example of top left staple-binding in two-sidedprinting will be described. The first front face is regardless ofpress-binding, and can be viewed by the user. Therefore, an image is notprocessed on a front face 901 of the first sheet.

On the other hand, a back face 902 of the first sheet to a front face907 of the last sheet (905-906) forma press-bound bundle, and are notdirectly viewed by the user. Therefore, a control is performed so thatan image process is performed and the toner is not positioned thereon. Aback face 908 of the last sheet is regardless of press-binding, and canbe viewed by the user. Therefore, an image is not processed on the backface 908.

The place at which the image is processed is switched and controlled inthis manner, which can suppress the omission of the image placed at theplace which is easily viewed by the user, and provide staple-less bounddocuments without decreasing a press-binding force.

Next, a plurality of methods is discussed also for a method forperforming a process so that the image is not positioned at thestaple-binding position.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an image processing example forstapling by a printing apparatus according to the present exemplaryembodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment, an example in which theCPU 101 performs a mask process so that a part of image data to beprinted at a position where a binding unit performs a binding process isa white image, will be described as a first processing example. Further,an example in which the CPU 101 performs a mask process in a triangleshape so that a part of image data to be printed at a position where abinding unit performs a binding process is a white image, will bedescribed as a second processing example. Further, an example in whichthe CPU 101 processes a printing position of image data so that theimage data is not printed at a position where a binding unit performs abinding process will be described as a third processing example.

In FIG. 10, an image non-processing example 1001 is an example where animage is positioned at a position where staple-binding is performed.Because toner is positioned at the staple-binding position in thisstate, a binding force is to be decreased. In order to avoid thedecrease of the binding force, a process is performed so that the imageis not positioned at the staple-binding position.

An image processing example 1002 is a method for performing a rectanglewhite mask process at a staple-binding position. Because the rectangleimage white mask process can also be easily performed by a hardwarecontrol, a control can be performed so as not to position the toner at abinding portion without decreasing a printing speed. An image processingexample 1003 is a method for performing a triangle white mask process ata staple-binding portion. Because the rectangle white mask largely masksthe place viewed by the user, the mask place may be viewed. However, thetriangle-shaped mask enables a beautiful finish which is not easilyviewed by the user.

An image processing example 1004 illustrates a method for shifting aprinting position of an image so that a staple-binding portion becomes awhite space. Because the staple-binding position is the top left in theexample of FIG. 10, an example in which the entire image is shifted tothe bottom right so that the top left becomes the white space isillustrated.

Because the right portion and bottom portion of the image are droppedout in this case, there is also provided a method for reducing imagedata so that a staple-binding portion becomes a white space as in animage processing example 1005, and performing a shift process to form animage. Thus, a comfortable finish for the user can be provided by movingthe entire image so that the place where staple-less stapling isperformed becomes the white space.

The decrease of the binding force can be avoided by performing the imageprocess so that the toner is not positioned at the binding position ofthe staple-less stapling in this manner. An output product having acomfortable finish for the user can be provided by combining variousmethods such as the image mask and the shift process as a method forpreventing the toner from being placed at the binding position.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a control method for controllingthe printing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.The present exemplary embodiment is an example in which a control isperformed so that an image is not placed at a staple binding positionwhen staple-less stapling is executed. The CPU 101 executes a controlprogram read from a ROM 102 to realize each step. Hereinafter, in thepresent exemplary embodiment, there will be described a process forcontrolling a binding process so that image data to be printed on afront face of a sheet on which the CPU 101 performs the binding processand a back face of a sheet on which the CPU 101 performs the bindingprocess is not processed.

First, a user instructs a printing process set to performstaple-binding, to start a stapling printing process. In step S1101, theCPU 101 reads image data from an SRAM 103 when the user instructs theprinting process. Next, in step S1102, the CPU 101 transmits the readimage data to an image processing unit 108, and the image processingunit 108 decodes the image data to generate a printing image. In stepS1103, the CPU 101 confirms a staple-binding method. In step S1107, theCPU 101 prints the image data without particularly processing theprinting image when the staple-binding method is stapling with a staple(“stapling with staple” in step S1103). Because stapling is executedusing a staple in the stapling with a staple, it has a binding forcestronger than that of the staple-less stapling. Therefore, in thestapling with a staple, the outer side of the sheet can be bound ascompared with the case of the staple-less stapling. As a result, thestaple does not likely overlap with the image, and thereby the printingimage need not be processed.

In step S1104, the CPU 101 determines whether the printing image isprinted on the front face or back face of an output paper when the CPU101 determines that the staple-binding method is the staple-lessstapling (“staple-less stapling” in step S1103). In step S1105, the CPU101 performs an image process so that an image is not placed at thestaple-binding position when the CPU 101 determines that the printingimage is printed on the front face (“front face” in step S1104). Theimage process method may be any of the methods illustrated in FIG. 10.

On the other hand, in step S1106, the CPU 101 performs an image processso that the image is not placed on the reverse position of thestaple-binding position when the CPU 101 determines that the printingimage is printed on the back face (“back face” in step S1104). Forexample, as illustrated in a front face 701 of FIG. 7, the CPU 101performs an image process so that the image is not placed at the “topright”” of a back face 702 of the sheet when the staple-less stapling isspecified to be performed at the “top left” of the sheet. The front face701 and back face 702 of FIG. 7 are an example where the image is aportrait (vertically long) and a binding margin is set to “left”.However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the CPU 101performs an image process so that the image is not placed at the “bottomleft” of the back face 702 of the sheet when the image is a portrait anda binding margin is “top”. The CPU 101 performs an image process so thatthe image is not placed at the “top right” of the back face of the sheetwhen the image is a landscape (horizontally long) and a binding marginis set to “left”. On the other hand, the CPU 101 performs an imageprocess so that the image is not placed at the “bottom left” of the backface of the sheet when the image is a landscape and a binding margin isset to top. The image process method may be any of the methodsillustrated in FIG. 10. Thus, in step S1107, the recording unit 107prints the image data in a state where the image data is processed sothat the image is not placed at the staple-binding position.

In step S1108, the CPU 101 determines whether the page is the last page.In step S1101, the CPU 101 loads a printing image of the next page froma memory, and similarly processes the printing image when the CPU 101determines that the page is not the last page (NO in step S1108).

On the other hand, in step S1108, when the CPU 101 determines that thepage is the last page (YES in step S1108), in step S1109, the sheetprocessing unit 109 staple-binds a specified position after all thepages are printed, and the CPU 101 ends the process. Thereby, thestaple-binding printing is ended.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a control method for controlling aprinting apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. Thepresent exemplary embodiment is an example in which a control isperformed so that an image is not placed at a staple-binding positionother than a front face of a first page and a back face of a last pagewhen staple-less stapling is executed. A CPU 101 executes a controlprogram read from a ROM 102 to realize each step. Hereinafter, in thepresent exemplary embodiment, there will be described a process forcontrolling a binding process so that image data to be printed on thefront face of the first sheet on which the CPU 101 performs a bindingprocess and the back face of the last sheet on which the CPU 101performs a binding process, is not processed.

A user instructs a printing process set to perform staple-binding, tostart a stapling printing process. In step S1201, the CPU 101 readsimage data from an SRAM 103 when the user instructs the printingprocess. Next, in step S1202, the CPU 101 transmits the read image datato an image processing unit 108, and the image processing unit 108decodes the image data to generate a printing image.

In step S1203, the CPU 101 determines whether a staple-binding methoduses a staple or does not use the staple. In step S1211, the CPU 101prints the image data without particularly processing the printing imagewhen the CPU 101 determines that the staple-binding method is staplingwith staple (“stapling with staple” in step S1203).

On the other hand, in step S1204, the CPU 101 determines whether theprinting image is then printed on a front face or back face of an outputpaper when the CPU 101 determines that the staple-binding method isstaple-less stapling (“staple-less stapling” in step S1203). In stepS1205, the CPU 101 determines whether the page is a first page when theCPU 101 determines that the printing image is printed on the front face(“front face” in step S1204).

In step S1207, the CPU 101 performs an image process so that the imageis not placed at a staple-binding position when the CPU 101 determinesthat the page is not the first page (NO in step S1205). The imageprocess method may be any of the methods illustrated in FIG. 10.

On the other hand, in step S1208, the CPU 101 do not perform an imageprocess on the page at the staple-binding position when the CPU 101determines that the page is the first page (YES in step S1205).

In step S1204, when the CPU 101 determines that the printing image isprinted on the back face (“back face” in step S1204), in step S1206, theCPU 101 further determines whether the page is the last page. In stepS1209, the CPU 101 performs an image process so that the image is notplaced at a position corresponding to the back face of thestaple-binding position when the CPU 101 determines that the page is notthe last page (NO in step S1206). For example, as illustrated in thefront face 903 of FIG. 9, the CPU 101 performs an image process so thatthe image is not placed at the “top right” of the back face 902 of thesheet when the staple-less stapling is specified to be performed at the“top left” of the sheet. The front face 903 and back face 904 of FIG. 9are an example when the image is a portrait (vertically long) and abinding margin is set to “left”. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto, and the CPU 101 performs an image process so that theimage is not placed at the “bottom left” of the back face 904 of thesheet when the image is a portrait and a binding margin is “top”. TheCPU 101 performs an image process so that the image is not placed at the“top right” of the back face of the sheet when the image is a landscape(horizontally long) and a binding margin is set to “left”. On the otherhand, the CPU 101 performs an image process so that the image is notplaced at the “bottom left” of the back face of the sheet when the imageis a landscape and a binding margin is set to top. The image processmethod may be any of the methods illustrated in FIG. 10.

On the other hand, in step S1210, the CPU 101 do not perform an imageprocess on the page about the staple-binding position when the CPU 101determines that the page is the last page (YES in step S1206). Thus, instep S1211, the CPU 101 performs appropriate determination so that theimage is not placed on the staple-binding position, and a recording unit107 prints the image data in a state where the image data is processed.

In step S1212, the CPU 101 determines whether the printed page is thelast page. In step S1201, the CPU 101 loads a printing image of the nextpage from a memory when the CPU 101 determines that the page is not thelast page (NO in step S1212), and similarly processes the printingimage.

On the other hand, in step S1213, the sheet processing unit 109staple-binds a specified position after all the pages are printed whenthe CPU 101 determines that the printed page is the last page (YES instep S1212), and the CPU 101 ends the process. Thereby, thestaple-binding printing is ended.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodimentsdescribed above, and various modifications (including an organiccombination of the exemplary embodiments) are possible based on thefeatures of the present invention. Those modifications are included inthe scope of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment (s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and function.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus comprising: a printerconfigured to print an image on a supplied sheet; a binder, wherein thebinder includes a first portion and a second portion and is configuredto stick a plurality of sheets printed by the printer together byapplying pressure on the plurality of sheets between the first andsecond portions using the first portion and the second portion of thebinder; and a processor configured to perform, for an image to beprinted on a sheet of the plurality of sheets, a process not to print apart of the image on the sheet, such that the printer prints no image onan area of the sheet where the binder applies pressure to stick theplurality of sheets together, wherein the part of the image correspondsto at least the area of the sheet where the first portion and the secondportion of the binder apply pressure to stick the plurality of sheetstogether.
 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theprocessor is configured to mask image data related to the part of theimage corresponding to at least the area of the sheet where the firstportion and the second portion of the binder apply pressure.
 3. Theprinting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor processesimage data to be printed such that the part of the image becomes a whiteimage.
 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partof the image corresponds to a predetermined area of the sheet, andwherein the predetermined area of the sheet includes the area of thesheet where the first portion and the second portion of the binder applypressure.
 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thearea of the sheet where the first portion and the second portion of thebinder apply pressure is located near a corner of the sheet, wherein thepart of the image corresponds to a triangular area of the sheet in whichthe printer is to print no image, and wherein the triangular area of thesheet corresponds to the corner of the sheet and includes the area ofthe sheet where the first portion and the second portion of the binderapply pressure.
 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, whereina first corner of the sheet is formed of a first edge of the sheet and asecond edge of the sheet and the area of the sheet where the firstportion and the second portion of the binder apply pressure extends apredetermine direction and is located near the first corner of thesheet, wherein a virtual line is parallel to the predetermineddirection, passes the area of the sheet where the first portion and thesecond portion of the binder apply pressure, and crosses the first edgeof the sheet and the second edge of the sheet, wherein the part of theimage corresponds to a triangular area, of the sheet, having one sidealong the virtual line, and wherein the triangular area of the sheetincludes the area of the sheet where the first portion and the secondportion of the binder apply pressure.
 7. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the area of the sheet where the firstportion and the second portion of the binder apply pressure is locatednear a corner of the sheet, wherein the part of the image corresponds toa rectangle area of the sheet in which the printer is to print no image,and wherein the rectangle area of the sheet corresponds to the corner ofthe sheet and includes the area of the sheet where the first portion andthe second portion of the binder apply pressure.
 8. A printing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein, in performing the process not to printthe part of the image on the sheet, the processor processes print datasuch that part of an image related to the print data is not printed onthe sheet and remainder of the image related to the print data isprinted on the sheet.
 9. A printing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, in performing the process not to print the part of the image onthe sheet, the processor does no perform the process to an image to beprinted on a front face of a first sheet included in the plurality ofsheets to be bound and does not perform the process to an image to beprinted on a back face of a last sheet included in the plurality ofsheets to be bound.
 10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the binder is configured to stick, without using a staple, theplurality of sheets together by applying pressure on the plurality ofsheets.
 11. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thearea of the sheet where the first portion and the second portion of thebinder apply pressure is located near a corner of the sheet.
 12. Theprinting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the part of the imagecorresponds to a triangular area of the sheet in which the printer is toprint no image, and wherein the triangular area of the sheet includesthe area of the sheet where the first portion and the second portion ofthe binder apply pressure.
 13. A print control method for a printingapparatus having a printer configured to print an image on a suppliedsheet and a binder having a first portion and a second portion, theprint control method comprising: sticking a plurality of sheets printedby the printer together by applying pressure on the plurality of sheetsbetween the first and second portions using the first portion and thesecond portion of the binder; and performing, for an image to be printedon a sheet of the plurality of sheets, a process not to print a part ofthe image on the sheet such that the printer prints no image on an areaof the sheet where the binder applies pressure to stick the plurality ofsheets together, wherein the part of the image corresponds to at leastthe area of the sheet where the first portion and the second portion ofthe binder apply pressure to stick the plurality of sheets together. 14.A printing apparatus comprising: a printer configured to print an imageon a sheet from a plurality of sheets; a binder having a first portionand a second portion configured to cooperate to press a plurality ofsheets together to stick the plurality of sheets together; and aprocessor configured to control the printer, wherein, in a case wherethe plurality of sheets are to be stuck together and a first part of animage to be printed on the sheet corresponds to an area of the sheetwhere the binder is to apply pressure, the processor controls theprinter to print a remaining part of the image on the sheet withoutprinting the first part in the sheet.
 15. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the image is printed on the sheet withless than all of the image being printed on the sheet and withoutchanging a layout of the image.
 16. The printing apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein the printer is configured to use toner to print theimage on the sheet, and wherein the processor controls the printer touse toner to print the remaining part of the image on the sheet withoutprinting the first part such that toner is not printed in the area ofthe sheet where the first portion and the second portion of the bindersubsequently apply pressure to stick the plurality of sheets together.17. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the firstportion and the second portion of the binder subsequently apply enoughpressure to stick the plurality of sheets together using only thepressure from the binder.